Sourced from GNR Health, Cobb & Douglas Public Health, DeKalb Public Health, and District 4 Public Health published fee schedules and program documentation — last checked July 2026.
Why Metro Atlanta Is Different
Georgia’s septic rules are set statewide by DPH Chapter 511-3-1, but they’re administered county by county. In metro Atlanta that means four separate offices, four fee schedules, and four sets of local practice — and the differences matter enough to change what your project costs.
The other factor is soil. Metro Atlanta sits on Piedmont red clay (the Cecil series), which drains at 60 to 120 minutes per inch — well below what a conventional gravity system needs. In parts of Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett, where lots are small and soils tight, engineered designs are now the norm rather than the exception. That’s why an Atlanta-area installation frequently costs more than the same house would in South Georgia.
Metro Atlanta Counties Compared
| County | Health Authority | Residential Permit | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwinnett | GNR Health | $275 (2020 schedule) | 770-963-5132 |
| Cobb | Cobb & Douglas Public Health | $250 + $110 site review | 770-435-7815 |
| DeKalb | DeKalb Public Health | $250 + $200 site approval | 404-508-7900 |
| Henry | District 4 Public Health | Not published — call | 470-661-0044 |
| Fayette | District 4 Public Health | $275 (undated schedule) | 943-209-8057 |
| Pike | District 4 Public Health | Not published — call | 770-567-8972 |
| Newton | GNR Public Health | $275 — date conflict on schedule | 770-784-2121 |
| Walton | Northeast Health District | $425 ($475 for 5+ bedrooms) | 770-267-1430 |
| Coweta | District 4 Public Health | Not published — call | 770-683-7345 |
| Carroll | District 4 Public Health | Not published — call | 770-836-6781 |
| Spalding | District 4 Public Health | Not published — call | 770-467-4230 |
| Butts | District 4 Public Health | Not published — call | 770-504-2230 ext. 3 |
| Douglas | Cobb & Douglas Public Health | $250, rising to $320 on January 1, 2027 | 770-920-7311 |
| Paulding | Northwest Georgia, District 1-1 | $275 (2008 schedule — confirm) | 770-443-7881 |
A note on these figures: Cobb’s and DeKalb’s fee schedules are current and published. Gwinnett’s most recently posted schedule dates to 2020, so verify before budgeting. District 4 does not publish Henry County’s septic fees at all — they’re set at the county office, so you’ll need to call.
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The Biggest Practical Differences
Gwinnett is the strictest on soil. Since February 7, 2022, GNR Health has required a Level 3 soil report for all septic permits — new construction, repairs, and modifications alike. Most Georgia counties require it only for new construction. Budget for a Certified Soil Classifier even on a repair.
Cobb has money available. Cobb & Douglas Public Health runs an ARPA-funded assistance program covering up to $500 for pumping and up to $15,000 for repair or sewer connection for income-eligible primary homeowners. No other metro county currently offers anything comparable. It’s time-limited, so check current status.
DeKalb publishes the most usable homeowner guidance. DeKalb Public Health posts pumping frequency charts by tank size and household count, and offers a certification letter for loan, refinance, and foster/adoptive purposes.
Henry is the fastest-growing and least documented. District 4 covers twelve counties and doesn’t publish a consolidated fee schedule. Henry is also actively expanding sewer, so check availability before committing to a septic install.
Before You Call Any of Them
Have three things ready: your parcel or tax ID number, whether the property is on public water or a private well (this changes the minimum lot width requirement from 100 to 150 feet), and whether you’re doing new construction, a repair, or a modification — the fee and the soil requirement differ for each.
What Your County Charges — Where Georgia Publishes It
Georgia sets septic fees county by county, under O.C.G.A. 31-3-4. There is no state schedule and no district schedule — District 4 publishes nothing at all across its twelve counties. Of the nineteen counties we cover, five publish a fee schedule we can read. Here they are, with what is wrong with each one.
Every figure here comes from that county’s own published schedule, with the date it carries. Fee authority in Georgia is per-county by statute, so we will never print a neighboring county’s number on your county’s page — it would be wrong. Where a county is not listed, it publishes no schedule we could retrieve, and that is not the same as there being no fee. We hold no sourced figure for what a complete septic installation costs in Georgia and will not print one.
Who Issues Your Permit in Georgia
Georgia septic permits are issued county by county, and fee-setting authority is statutory and per-county under O.C.G.A. § 31-3-4. That means there is no statewide fee, and most counties publish no fee at all. This tells you which health district you are actually dealing with, where its environmental health office is, and what it publishes.
We are an independent information resource and not a health department. Every fee below is shown with the date its schedule took effect, and where a county publishes none we say so rather than borrowing a neighboring county figure — under O.C.G.A. § 31-3-4 that figure would simply be wrong. Ring the office before you budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which health department handles septic permits in metro Atlanta?
It depends on the county. Gwinnett uses GNR Health, Cobb uses Cobb & Douglas Public Health, DeKalb uses DeKalb Public Health, and Henry uses District 4 Public Health.
How much does a septic permit cost in metro Atlanta?
Residential permits run roughly $250-$275 where published. Cobb is $250 plus a $110 site review; DeKalb is $250 plus $200 site approval; Gwinnett was $275 on its 2020 schedule. Henry does not publish fees.
Which metro county has the strictest septic requirements?
Gwinnett. GNR Health has required a Level 3 soil report for all septic permits, including repairs and modifications, since February 7, 2022.
Is there financial help for septic repairs in metro Atlanta?
Cobb County offers an ARPA-funded program covering up to $500 for pumping and up to $15,000 for repair or sewer connection for income-eligible primary homeowners. It is time-limited.
Why do septic systems cost more in metro Atlanta?
Piedmont red clay drains at 60-120 minutes per inch, too slow for conventional gravity systems. In parts of Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett, engineered designs are the norm rather than the exception.